Nikon Coolpix S1000pj

“The projector provides a whole new way to show off your photos.”

DigitalCameraInfo has just published their review of the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj [Specs], with 12.1MP (1/2.3-in. CCD) resolution, 5x wide-angle optical zoom (28-140mm equiv.), optical Image Stabilization, 2.7-in. LCD (230K dots), Scene Auto Selector, Scene Modes, Smart Portrait, Red-Eye Fix, Face-Priority AF, Blink Proof function, D-Lighting, Movie 640 x 480 @ 30 fps, and a built-in projector.

[ Read the Nikon S1000pj Review at: DigitalCameraInfo ]

Pentax K-x

“If good-enough image and video quality is good enough for you, the Pentax K-x is a fun and flexible camera. (*)”

DigitalCameraInfo has just published their review of the Pentax K-x DSLR [Specs], with 12.4MP resolution (on a 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS image sensor), Shake Reduction sensor-shift Image Stabilization, 2.7-in. LCD (230K dots), 11 Point Wide Angle Focus, PASM, Auto Picture mode, Scene modes, Creative Processing and Filter Modes, 30-1/6000 sec. plus Bulb, Dust Removal, HDR Image Capture (captures 3 bracketed images and blends them in-camera), RAW, optical viewfinder with 96% frame coverage, Live View with Contrast Detect, Phase difference and Face Detection AF, Continuous Shooting 4.7fps, built-in flash, and HD Movie (1280 x 720 @ 24fps). The Pentax K-x uses the SD/SDHC memory card and is powered by 4 AA batteries.

[ Read the Pentax K-x Review at: DigitalCameraInfo ]

* Since DigitalCameraInfo seems to give a low image quality rating to the Pentax K-x, we invite our readers to get a second [contrary] opinion from other expert reviewers:

• Pentax K-x Review @ DPReview
• Pentax K-x Review @ DigitalCameraReview
• Pentax K-x Review @ Photocrati
• Pentax K-x Review @ PhotographyBLOG
• Pentax K-x Review @ TechRadar

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The moon will be full this New Year’s Eve. The moon becomes full every 29.5 days, an occurrence wrongly labelled a “blue moon” in a 1946 magazine article. A New Year’s Eve “blue moon” only happens every 19 years or so.

[ Read the article at: Toronto Star ]

CAMERAS: Remember those trips to get film developed? Nope? Even your grandmother has a digital camera, and she’s probably emailing you photos right now or uploading them to a photo-sharing site.

[ Read the whole article at: Yahoo! ]

Japanese researchers at at Chiba University have developed a “hummingbird robot” that can flutter around freely in mid-air with rapid wing movements. The robot is about the same size as a real hummingbird, flies courtesy of a micro motor and four wings that can flap 30 times per second, and is controlled with an infrared sensor.

Professor Hiroshi Liu, the main researcher, adds that he also plans to equip the Hummingbird Robot with a micro camera by March 2011.

Potential uses include helping rescue people trapped in destroyed buildings, searching for criminals or even as a probe vehicle on Mars.

[ Read the article at: Yahoo! ]

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OK, so you’ve bought your first Canon DSLR and are now wondering which lens(es) to add to your collection. If you thought that selecting your first DSLR was a hard job, choosing the right lens for the job is doubly so! There are so many of them [choice is good] and the focal length ranges tends to overlap one another, adding to the confusion. Prices also vary and we get the sneaky suspicion that we “get what we pay for.”

Fear not! Bob Atkins has tabulated what he believes to be the very best Canon EOS lenses based on user’s ratings (and with no regard to cost). If you need to know, the Canon EF 85mm f1.2L USM Mark II leads the pack.

[ View the whole list at: BobAtkins ]

The big secret to outstanding images that seem to be perfectly exposed in the bright as well as the shadows, and that pop out in deep colors is HDR. Photomatix Pro [QuickPrice Check] has been the popular choice and is now available in a “light” version for less than half the price of the Pro version: US $39.

[ Download a trial version of Photomatix Light at: HDRsoft ]

Related Link:

• To HDR or Not, That Is The Question